Cinder's eyes met that of a tall man, dazzled in a green suit. A black cloak dropped over his shoulder. Yet, his face was covered in a black mask. The dress man had grabbed the man's arm, lifting him off the ground. The Marquis slowly turns to the man, his face pale, a sight Cinder had never seen from him.

"Do not forget, trash is very easy to get rid of," the masked man snared. He puts the Marquis down on his feet and runs as he screams how unfair the world is. 

"Colorful scum, ain't he?" Cinder said. 

The masked man nodded, "A rare breed of scum that I don't get to deal with often."

She giggled, "Because they don't try to flirt with you." She turned back to the lady, who immediately thanked both of them. Cinder patted her shoulder, "It's my pleasure, dear. Find a servant and your family. Take care of yourself." The lady nodded and grabbed her book before returning to the main hall.

Cinder turned over to the masked man, who stared at her. She bowed to him. "I want to say thank you for catching him for me. You're quicker than anybody I have met in a while. Also, I apologized for my unladylike behavior, but I felt justified," she said.

He bowed, too, "There is no need for apologies; I would do the same. I ought to be fast after training for so long."

Of course, the man had to be a knight. No average noble could leave a grown man in the air with just one arm. Though, she didn't know what rank he could be in. By the way, he carries himself, she reckons maybe a general or even a commander if she stretches far enough. "You have been run that thin, huh?"

  "Pardon?"

"You know, when training after training, they push so hard that a moth flying in your room can wake you up? Honestly, I came rushing down here when I heard the conflict. I have such a train precedent to prepare for anything. I can't even enjoy the party because the drunkenness of everybody puts me on edge, and the smell of alcohol gives me a headache."

The man looks her up and down, only nodding in response. She could feel his eyes were intently on her.

"I reckon you are wondering why I came here in the first place if I knew I couldn't relax here," She stretched, "My friend wanted to come here as she had never been to a noble party. She's a medical mage, so they don't get invited out much. I figured if I came with her, I could maybe relax." Her face turned to gloom as she rubbed her head, "Unfortunately, she's a damn runner that managed to leave my sight, and now I'm stuck trying to find her in this mazelike place."

"If I may be of service," The man's hands slowly moved up his face, "I can help you find your friend. As for I'm," he loosened his mask and removed it, realizing his face "...quite familiar with the area." 

Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest when she saw those brilliant orange-gold eyes, which she felt might blind her if she stared too much. That once boyish face has changed and hardened into a powerful man's. He was always tall, but instead of standing nervously, he was towering. Her eyes traveled to his lips, a harsh scar on the right side of his lips- a scar she had never seen.

Her stunned eyes softened as the words fell out her lips like sweet honey, "Kris Ironheart. General Ironheart."

"Yes?" Kris raised his eyebrow, "Do I know you?"

She took off her mask with her nerves high and her hands slightly. "I reckon I'm too small of a noble to be recognizable," She said in a low tone, almost hoping the man couldn't hear.

"Even the smallest rose is still worthy to be noticed," He responded softly. He tilted his head as he examined her face. "I apologize, as I do not know who you are."

Externally, she held a simple smile. Internally, her thoughts were doing a perfect performance of a summersalt. On the one hand, she was utterly happy at the presumption that her general, who knows how to be very obedient to others, couldn't recognize her face as the "beast. The gender euphoria was off the room. Yet, on the other hand, deep in this tango, there lies a slight sadness that her beloved general didn't notice her. 

They were never considered friends in her past and current life, but she held so much mutual respect for him. Especially after saving his life, he was even more attentive to her needs. 

She giggled, "I'm Lady Cinder. I have moved from the lunar district to be closer to businesses here. I'm an investor."

"Please meet you, Lady Cinder." Kris bowed again. 

"No need for formalities, Duke Ironheart. Especially when only one of us is worthy of such things."

Kris lifted backup, "May I ask-"

A rustle in the bushes causes them to jump into a fighting stance. Only for the woman of the hour to stumble out: Beth. Her mask was in her hand as she ripped her yellow eyes. "So...is the party...like dead?" She was obviously drunk.

"THIS IS WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN?!" Cinder yelled. Cinder grabbed Beth and started to shake her down. "I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HARD IT WAS TO WALK AROUND IN THIS MAZE OF A PALACE?! YOU COULD'VE GOTTEN HURT AND I WOULDN'T KNOW....!" 

Beth maintained a smile while Cinder listed all her complaints. Until she notices Kris. She instantly clasps Cinder's cheeks, then looks her straight in her eyes. "Cinder...." she pinched her cheeks, "How you gonna come after me when you're keeping a man to yourself!?" Kris's eyes widen as Cinder's face darkens with a slight 

"Do you need me-" Kris tries to call out.

However, Cinder then immediately lifted Beth over her shoulder. "We are calling it a night!" Beth protested, pouting that she had only just been seduced by Kris without ever taking a bit of him. Cinder turns to Kris with a pissed smile, "I apologize for my friend's behavior and our shortened convo. Farewell!" They left Kris behind in the dust as Cinder hurried out of the area.

Despite her anger at being left behind, Cinder couldn't stay too mad at Beth, especially since the multi-colored hair lady was mumbling happily in her drunken sleep on Cinder's lap inside the carriage back home. Cinder sighed as she gently patted Beth's head. She looked out the window to the city, her thoughts leading back to that man: Kris. Maybe it's because she could never see his face directly after the war, but she couldn't get it out of her head. It was nice to see him again; it was a shame that it wouldn't happen again. Still, she wished him well in life: it would be a joke if they did cross paths again.

And maybe fate thought itself a joker when in a few days, on a high morning, at the residence, a letter was sent by none other than Archduke Kris, asking for something so phenomenal: A marriage proposal.